Report from the Promoter of Justice & Peace Sr. Petronille Kayiba OP Justice and Peace Promoter

DSA was represented at the meeting of Dominican Justice and Peace promoters from around the world in Belgium in June '99, with representatives from the brothers and sisters from each continent and Yvon Pomerleau from Santa Sabina and Philippe LeBlanc from FIOP as well. Africa's representation was weaker than the other groups since it was their first time at the meeting. However, the African representatives were able to begin to network with other Justice promoters around the world, visited the Parliament of the European Union, ESPACE, and the European Bishops Conference. At the end of the meeting, among other things they signed a declaration about remission of debt of poor nations.

The African promoters are in a time of transition and would like to be better organized. They therefore decided to have their own organizing meeting in Abidjan in July of 2000. The sisters will send the promoters of Justice and Peace for each region. The friars are sending people who are actually engaged in Justice and Peace work in Africa. The purpose is to establish a Dominican commission of Justice and Peace for the African continent and to educate J&P workers. They will also foster better communications among Dominican J&P workers through the publication of a newsletter.

Sr. Petronille attended a meeting of Domincan sisters in Cameroon to promote J&P causes. In her presentation she stressed commitment to J&P work among Dominicans and the taking of concrete actions as Dominicans. At the end of the meeting the group responded by creating a commission of justice and peace for the Central African Zone. Although this commission represent people from 8 countries, they only meet in Cameroon at the present time. They are beginning to affect J&P issues in Cameroon and in time will expand to other countries. Their progress will be reviewed at the meeting in Abidjan to see how it can be done more effectively.

The outstanding problems in the area of J&P promotion in Africa center around the difficulty and expense of communication and of launching concrete projects. These issues will be discussed at Abidjan as well. The structure itself, with one regional promoter and four zonal coordinators, is working well at this point. The Dominican friars are more organized since they have been organized longer, and the sisters therefore rely on them for support. Often when the sisters and brothers work in collaboration, the friars pay most of the expenses. This is the reality at the moment, but the sisters intend to set up their own structures for funding so that they can pay their own expenses in the future.